Creating Positive Memories

[Bloomy]

My super friend Bobbie :D

 

[Tinyflame]

@Bloomy he/ she is a Cutie. :) :inlove:

I just realized this is an old thread.

I also realized I don't remember good memories much! :wideeyed: :eek:

I have been trying (or sometimes it happens) that things 'feel' good, I think that makes for (possibly?) happy memories. So working on thinking/ cognitive distortions, rest (if possible), mindfulness of comforting feels, or reduced stress (low light). Things like putting nice flowers out, not wearing uncomfortable clothes/ tags. Having a small treat. I can't tolerate much music atm, but stuff like that.

Those are more 'in-the-moment', but as per memories, I would think if good ones occur to keep some tactile 'momento' or photo or something that you can see/ feel whatever, to remind you.

 

[Bloomy]

I wasnt using my glasses so I didnt see this post was "out of date" :-)

He is a he. Definetly. Bobbie joy :-)

Its interesting to see when I start to talk about it or think about it that the last couple of years have contained some good times that created good memories. Ive been in the flow. And thats actually a wow from the traumatized person I used to be scared of all everything and everyone not being able to create "in good moments" actions. So I guess it means that I did do some healing after all :)

I like the thing about nice flowers - that is important. I treat myself inbetween with colourful flowers. And since I am active I almost always wear my comfy trainingpants :D

 

[Tinyflame]

:tup: :) And candles, nice smells, warmth. Oy ya, & if possible remove lousy reminders.

 

[Changing4Best]

I bought a digital membership/ subscription to National Geographic today. If I recall, it was around $15 US or you can pay by Pay Pal. I already got some positive memories from it. There is a book of theirs that you can view called THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD. It was just awesome to look at all that beauty. God has created some inspiring places! You can download copies of all their magazines as they come out each month and also download copies of all previous ones, back I don't know how far though.

I read in READERS DIGEST once that even just planning a vacation (even if you never took it) is something that will cheer you up. I tried it one day, looking at an ad for a cruise on a Mississippi River Boat. I thought of how wonderful it would be to take that trip. It cheered me up, just to think about it! I tried to imagine what it would be like to take that cruise and be on that boat. I got some neat ideas from thinking about it.

When I was a kid my parents took us all over the country on vacations each year. We visited every state in the USA except Alaska and Hawaii. My grandfather was my abuser, so thoughts about being with my parents make me happy. Thoughts about my abuser would not make me happy, of course, so I try to think of happy things if I think of him.

Just looking at beautiful pictures makes me happy. Giving gifts to people makes me happy. I have some family photos that I plan to send to my niece and nephew. I know these will make them happy. I want to make others I love happy. So I love to give things away, when I know that a loved one will cherish them.

Going to church makes me happy. My church is a very welcoming place and very friendly. Not all the churches I attended were that way. You have to pick and choose. When you go church "shopping" choose one where the folks are happy, friendly and nice. I also don't pay a lot of attention to how folks dress there. Some churches are all fussy about your cloths and all that, fashion and look fine, but we go to church to worship God first and foremost. I am sure God does not care how we dress at church, because He looks at the person's heart and soul and their intentions, not how they dress! None the less, I like to look neat and presentable at church. Even so, I sometimes will wear a nice pair of jeans and a pretty blouse or T-shirt. Just so long as one is dressed decently, that is fine by me. I have met some of the nicest, kindest, most generous people at churches.

Anyway, look for beauty, kindness in others, good things to eat and drink, and just smile at folks and hold the doors open for them wherever you go. You would be surprised at how many folks smile back and say Hi and are nice to you. They also say thinks when you hold the door open for them.

 

[Bloomy]

Had to crop a lot so it could be uploaded. Hope photo comes out well do. Took it couple of weeks ago in the forest.

 

[Changing4Best]

Once when I was a child, there was an ice storm where we lived. We got five days off from school, if I recall. All the trees has ice casings like that. It was awesome, but every once in awhile I would hear something crack. I think it was the ice cracking and breaking a branch maybe. Anyway, it sure was an awesome sight, and I will remember it all for the rest of my life. We had a forest behind our house, so I had gone way out into it to see all the trees covered with the ice. There was no wind and the freezing rain had stopped, so it was really quiet too, except for the cracking sounds.

 

[Ronin]

I know how to create them.
I don't know how to make them stick. So living with the joy of the moment, for the moment's sake, & then reminiscing to it and reminding myself of it as often as physically possible does the trick so far.

 

[Changing4Best]

I also like to create images in my mind while I am reading. I do this naturally when I am reading quite often. I read the Bible, biographies and novels mostly. I also like to read inspirational books.

 

[Ronin]

@SheilaKathy: Memories of how you've met with all the biblical heroes, Jesus and whole his/His family included, sound like pretty grand new memories to make, not even gonna lie. :tup:;)

 

[Changing4Best]

Actually, I did meet Jesus for real one time. I was in an ambulance and the techs in there were doing CPR on me, but Jesus took me in spirit to the gates of Heaven and asked me if I wanted to go in or not. I felt I had things to do still here on earth, like tell my family about what happened there, so maybe they would believe. This may sound crazy, because I also wanted to get a book of poems published (which never worked out). I sometimes regret not having gone into Heaven then, but I know I did the right thing, because both my parents became Christians when I told them what happened. There is a chance that my other family members may join us too. I did not see Jesus' face, He was behind me or somehow blocked from my spiritual eyes. I did see my unborn daughter at the gates though. I had miscarried her, and she was there waiting for me! She begged me to come to her and called out "Mommy!", but I didn't. I know I hurt her feelings, but in time, when I get there, she will be fine.